U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky will campaign hard for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential nomination, Visclosky said Wednesday.

"I now am committed and will work very hard on his behalf," Visclosky said.

Visclosky publicly announced his support for Obama Wednesday morning, saying in a statement: "Right now, America needs a president who offers a vision of the future comprised of sensible solutions to today's problems. We need a president who will bring people together, give them hope, spur change and set the U.S. back on a course toward progress, prosperity and global leadership."

In an interview with The Times, Visclosky said he believed Obama is the best choice to accomplish those tasks in Northwest Indiana and the rest of the country.

"I believe in his ability to bring people together so that we can restore the United States to its full potential," he said.

Visclosky said he was not pressured by either campaign for his endorsement.

Visclosky said he wanted residents in his home state and constituent communities to choose their nominee without any influence from his decision.

"I did feel it was important for people to exercise their own judgment -- make up their own mind," he said.

Prior to Indiana's primary, Visclosky had said he would consider the results of his state and district.

"It would be a factor, but I would not want to be held to it," Visclosky said.

Clinton won Porter and Newton counties, where some of Visclosky's constituents live, and she narrowly won the state. Obama won Lake County, where most of Visclosky's district lies.

"On primary day, May 6, I voted for Obama," Visclosky said. "So by then, I had come to that conclusion but wanted to give it some additional time and reflection."

Visclosky's statement:

"When our country was in its darkest hour at the height of the Great Depression, it required presidential leadership from the likes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt to set the nation on the right course. After two terms under President Bush, we are engaged in a calamitous war in Iraq, unemployment is rising as our jobs are outsourced overseas, gas prices are out of control, foreclosures are decimating our communities, and access to healthcare is diminishing by the day. Our country is once again in a dark hour and we need a new President to bring Americans together and change the country for the better.

"One choice is Senator John McCain. He would continue the war in Iraq for 100 years, tax our healthcare benefits, and make no effort to stop outsourcing jobs. A McCain presidency would equate to four more years of the Bush Administration, which our country cannot afford.

"My choice is Senator Barack Obama who promises to bring Americans together to reach pragmatic, progressive solutions to the problems we face. I have faith in Obama to redeploy our troops from Iraq, and to do it quickly. I believe that Obama, a former community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, would stand up for our steel industry. I have confidence that Obama's energy plan will go a long way toward reducing our dependence on foreign oil by increasing our ability to produce renewable, non-carbon energy sources. I trust that Obama's healthcare plan will begin moving us toward guaranteeing a minimum level of coverage for all. And I know that Senator Obama will respect the constitution and restore the rule of law.

"Right now, America needs a President who offers a vision of the future comprised of sensible solutions to today's problems. We need a president who will bring people together, give them hope, spur change, and set the U.S. back on a course toward progress, prosperity, and global leadership."